FC Barcelona and Real Madrid may be sworn enemies and their supporters may bicker throughout the season; the fact remains that these are two clubs that could be described as friendly clubs. Or at least, from partner clubs. Besides this historic rivalry which forever links the two ogres of Spanish football, they are above all business partners, and in recent years, they have worked hand in hand much more often than face to face, even if it is true that the recent Negreira affair has created a bit of tension. In any case, this Super League which seems more relevant than ever is another good example that the management of the two teams agree on a number of subjects and wish to carry out joint operations. Moreover, Spain seems to be the only European country where the Super League is on the rise, not necessarily with the clubs, but with the supporters and the media. We must first understand that for years now, Barça and Real Madrid have been seeking to diversify their sources of income. Even if TV rights are constantly increasing in Spain – which is not the case everywhere – the gap with English clubs is far too significant in the financial aspect. Spain is late for many reasons: the Premier League has worked better on opening up to international markets or did so earlier at least, English-speaking culture is better imported abroad and in Asia in particular, supporters English have greater purchasing power than Spanish supporters and can therefore spend more money on subscriptions and derivative products etc… A whole bunch of factors which explain a delay which could be made up, at least according to Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta , through the creation of this new competition.
And both men are influential. Very influential. Javier Tebas, fiercely opposed to this project, is aware of this and has already explained on numerous occasions that “Florentino Pérez is untouchable” and that he is perhaps even the most influential man in Spain. It’s more or less the same for Joan Laporta at the Catalan level. For years now, the two presidents have been waging a fierce battle to convince Spanish public opinion. Public interventions, long speeches, excessive use of media relays, and many other techniques so that the average supporter of these two clubs, who represent a huge part of football fans in Spain, joins this Super League. And it’s quite successful. This guideline aimed at explaining that the Super League is the only viable project so that Barça and Real Madrid do not lose their splendor and their power on the European scene has clearly caught on with the fans. Many have seen their club lose strength in recent years, whether in terms of performance in Europe but especially in the transfer window, and they adhere to the vision of their two presidents. If the Merengues and the Blaugrana want to remain the two biggest clubs in the world, there is no choice; such is the discourse that dominates across the Pyrenees.
England tackles Real Madrid and FC Barcelona
Elsewhere, it is not the same story that is told. Particularly in England. Thus, the return of the Super League to the forefront has brought out the resentment of part of the British press. Who sharply attacks the two Spanish big names. “The decline of these clubs has been slow and painful over the past five years, with hubris, greed and mismanagement at its heart. It’s a story where both clubs have taken a huge chunk of television revenue, destroying the competitive balance in Spain that the Premier League enjoys.”can we read in the Daily Mail. “TV rights are only a fraction of those in England. The frenzied spending spree in the transfer market over the past two decades, until salary caps were imposed, plunged Barca, in particular, into a state of financial collapse. A European Super League is the apparent liberation from this state of financial purgatory – a way for both clubs to reclaim revenue and relevance in the face of the Premier League’s relentless dominance.”.
On the side of the Spanish media, beyond these instructions passed quietly by the management of the two clubs to try to influence onlookers, there is also another reality. Even if this season there is a slight increase in audiences, they have clearly stagnated or even declined in recent years. Florentino Pérez has explained it on numerous occasions: the young public, who have access to multiple sources of entertainment, are no longer necessarily that attracted to football. Or at least, he consumes it differently. The media and broadcasters are also aware of this, and the survival of the football ecosystem is clearly compromised. A new competition with meetings between European big names could boost collective interest in football, and therefore increase audiences and initiate a new virtuous circle for all those involved in sport. As for the other La Liga clubs, we will have to wait. Certainly, the majority is currently against this project, and especially sides with Javier Tebas. But for how much longer? In a context where most Spanish teams are stifled by this financial fair play of La Liga which practically prevents them from recruiting, and where their margin for progression and growth is quite limited, will they really spit on a competition which would allow them to multiply their income significantly? To be continued…
